Introducing...Your Essay! DECEMBER 1, 2015

I was not in class today, because I was at a day-long curriculum meeting.  I will be back tomorrow, in time for ROPES COURSE!!!

Today in class, you worked with Ms. Crane to get some ideas for your introductions.  We will be working on thesis statements when we return from Ropes Course.  The thesis statements I've seen so far are going in the right direction, but I see a lot of misunderstanding of the concept of "underlying causes" - that is critically important, so we'll spend some time on it.  HOWEVER - I do want you to try to draft a thesis statement if you have not done so already.  It will help you if you have something to work with on Monday!

HOMEWORK:  Draft a thesis statement and give it to me on paper or through Google.  I need this before Monday!

Welcome Back! November 30, 2015

To get all our brains back in gear, today we spent some time in class reminding ourselves of why our forefathers and mothers fought so hard:  To declare their independence from oppression.  You did this by declaring your own freedom, henceforth and forevermore, from tyranny in all its forms!  Spiders! Siblings!  Anti-skateboarding efforts!  Parental rules!  Friend drama!  We shall bear our chains no longer!!!

More seriously, I wanted you guys to refresh your memories about two very important ideas, those being the existence of "natural rights" (rights you have just because you exist in society) and grievances (a fancy word for complaints). The Patriots chose to split from England because they believed that they had legitimate grievances stemming from the fact that their government was violating their rights.  That's really what it boils down to.

HOMEWORK:  Use your well-honed essay writing skills to draft a strong thesis statement for your essay on the causes of the Revolutionary War.  Remember to review which essay prompt (on the first page of the DBQ packet) you and I have chosen for you.  Be sure to state your position and preview your major reasons in one clear, complete sentence!

Please share your thesis through Google Docs, or write it out on separate paper.

If you truly don't remember what a thesis statement is, here is a resource explaining it - but be warned, it's for college students, so the examples they give will not be what I'd expect from an 8th grader.

Thesis statement assistance

Here is a sample thesis statement builder for an 8th grade essay.  Please note that it might need a little tweaking to reflect the prompt you've been assigned and your personal approach to the topic.

If you still don't understand thesis statements, check this out:

Happy Thanksgiving! November 24, 2015

Today, you had a choice to work on your packet or help out with a community service project in class, or if you were all caught up, to relax with A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving!  Thank you to the many of you who helped me prepare to decorate the Exeter Historical Society tree for the Festival of Trees.

If you did not finish your packet in class today, please remember that it is due when you return!  I have linked it below in case you happened to lose it in the 24 hours since I gave it out.

Pre-Revolution DBQ Handout

DBQ Excitement!!! November 23, 2015

Today in class, I started the long, long, LONG process of walking us all through the essay process.  We are beginning with a DBQ, which is short for Document-Based Question.  This is something you will see in Social Studies classes through high school.  In a DBQ, you have a number of different documents with analytical questions to answer.  These will help you prepare for the essay, but we won't worry about that until after the break :).

You have time today and tomorrow to work on your packet.  I will be checking in with you to see how you're doing.

Happy Weekend! November 20, 2015

I hope everyone had a good Friday - two days off, two days of school, and then we all get a little break from one another!!  We're almost there, but meanwhile...

HOMEWORK:  We continued working on Declaration concepts for the last day today.  If you did not complete one of the questions from the small group task sheet as an individual assignment, you need to do that this weekend.  If you are in period 7, you may need to do 2 - check your notes!  The list of tasks is posted on yesterday's blog if you need it.

Declarative Statements, cont'd: November 19, 2015

First of all, I need to make sure you all know the following: Today is NOT actually my 60th birthday, despite what Mr. Wiggin wrote on my board!!!

Today in class, we worked on our classroom tasks associated with the Declaration of Independence.  Most of my classes got to the point where students are working on the small-group tasks or the extension assignment.  Per 7 missed class yesterday for an assembly, so they are working on the grievances and some groups are working on small-group tasks.

HOMEWORK:  Choose one item from the small-group task list to complete as an individual activity. BAND MEMBERS - if you will miss class tomorrow, do TWO of the tasks.

If you need a copy of the small-group tasks, it is linked below.

Small-group tasks

Declaration Cont'd: November 17, 2015

Today in class, we continued to work on our Declaration activities.  By the time you get done with these activities, you are going to know the Declaration VERY well!!

HOMEWORK:  Nothing new tonight, but you need to review and revise your Works Cited if it is not correct!